I felt empty watching it happen. I tried to come up with something to describe what I was going through, but no words would suffice.
I could tell it was coming; after all there couldn’t have been a better ending to one of the acts of the great Souths-Chooks script. No one could have come up with the storyline but somehow it made perfect sense.
It had to happen that way. You can even call it justice for them to serve back what the Roosters did to them back in round one.
Going into that match, I didn’t think the Roosters would have a solid chance of stealing another victory from the Rabbitohs. The Souths have better players who are in form and I never thought I would say this about Russell Crowe’s boys, but they have a more consistent squad.
I didn’t have any expectation for the Roosters to win. But when they were leading towards the end of the match, I started to believe. In retrospect that was a bad decision.
Bill Simmons put it this way: “You’re not even that mad. You just feel empty inside. You head into every big game assuming you will lose, and when it happens it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy”.
“You claim you have your guard up, only deep down that guard is lowered just enough that you’re hoping against hope that this game will be different. Only it never is.”
I never really felt sorry for teams suffering heart-breaking losses. Bayern Munich deserved to lose the Championship Final because they wasted chances to put Chelsea away.
The Heat went down against the Mavs because LeBron failed to become the player he is now.
Milan was defeated in Istanbul because they relaxed in the second half.
It was only right the Red Sox won Game seven in 2004 when Yankees got outpitched by a Curt Schilling bleeding into his sock.
The Tigers were never going to win in 2010 after they lost an uncontested scrum; I mean how on earth do you lose an uncontested scrum?
To be fair, I am only being a prick because my teams pulled off a few of these amazing victories over the years. I can still vaguely recreate these scenarios in my mind.
They are the reasons why I am a sports fan; I stick with my often disappointing teams so I get to experience the joys when these unlikely wins happen.
As fate would have it, on Monday night my fellow Roosters supporters and I were the ones whose miseries the rest of NRL got to build their happiness on, and I accept it wholeheartedly.
As a sports fan you know what you signed up for. It wasn’t the first time and i’t wont be the last.
Last night’s game was just a reminder that for every ecstatic fan out there, there is another fan who is suffering from unimaginable gut-wrenching agony.
Karma is a bitch.
Mac
Guest
Yep last week hurt like hell as a roosters fan. Was in shock for a day or so. The fact that the final try came directly from a kick off with no tackle being made really rubbed the salt in..The way Braith took as long as he could to kick the ball even after the clock was stopped gave me the feeling he was just delaying the inevitable and sure enough it happened..
Haradasun
Guest
As a Manly Fan, the Manly v Newcastle grand final of 1997 was a tough one to swallow. I think the toughest would be to be being a Parramatta fan throughout the 2001 grand final. I almost feel sorry for eels fans because of that game.
Haradasun
Guest
That was one of the great moments of Rugby league. I will treasure that forever.
Nicholashugo
Roar Pro
You think Mancini doesn't deserve credit, any one of balotelli or nasri or tevez would get most coaches fired...
someone
Guest
Mason shot his mouth off in the tunnel saying something like "We're in the Grand Final boys!" Lockyer had other ideas - down 20-6, came back to win 37-20.
someone
Guest
"The only thing it did was keep them in Melbourne" Umm that was the whole point of them cheating the salary cap, instead of losing players like every club does because they cant afford to keep them they paid them extra outside the cap which is illegal. How people don't understand that is beyond me.
dogforlife
Guest
Barry, I wasn't there but I feel your pain. I'm a born and bred QLDr and have followed the dogs since 79. Living, working and surrounded by Broncos fans on a daily basis. That's not even the worst because I still remember 1998. I do however believe in karma, and not unlike the author agonise over the lows, but then embrace them let them fester and spit them out 10 fold at the very first chance I get. Being at Suncorp when we flogged them 40 odd to 4 a few years back helped a littIe, not enought though.(I swear there was more Blue and White in the stands that night too) I have a looooong memory and am most looking forward to repaying the favour to some of the best mates and biggest losers I know in couple of months time, when we knock the ponies out of the finals.
mushi
Roar Guru
If money can't buy wins please explain Manchester City?
The Barry
Roar Guru
GF qualifier in 2006 Broncos v Dogs. I was at the SFS. The Dogs dominated the first half. The atmosphere was massive. I was hoarse from cheering. They went in 20-6 up at halftime, but I think it was 20-0 for quite a while and maybe the Broncs scored just before half time. They were two different teams in the second half and the Broncs won 30-odd to 20. I was in shock for hours after the game, I couldn't believe the second half had happened. I'd start enjoying myself for a split second and then a memory of the game would come flooding back and I'd be shattered again. Ended up running amok at the Paddo-Wollahra RSL more from the emotional blowout than the copious sorrow-drowning beers.
Joshua Wells
Roar Rookie
Money can buy you a lot of things, but it can't buy victories on a field. It didn't give the players momentum nor the toughness to keep going. The only thing it did was keep them in Melbourne - where they wanted to be. We lost two grand finals in that 5 year period, even a world club challenge, finished fourth in one of our peak years during the scandal. I know it is hard to believe but money can't buy everything. Why can't people just remember the good old times instead of reflecting a bad light on everything.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Nicholas - I was actually at the Bledisloe Cup that night and checking the NRL scores on my phone. The Tigers were beaten in extra time, and the Wallabies were beaten by a point. It was not one of my better nights.
Nicholashugo
Roar Pro
The Tahs, I would argue may be you should probably just focus on the wallabies, so many heartbreaking losses you can call them a health endangering hazard to fans.
Nicholashugo
Roar Pro
I rated that in my top ten fan experiences.
Nicholashugo
Roar Pro
I was thinking about saying this but thought it was inappropriate to take the shot at the poor guy who just poured his heart out...
Bring Back the Bears
Guest
You think that's bad, you should try being a Bears fan. In 91 years they had 2 premierships (1921 and 1922). Spent most of their money in the 90s helping finance Bluetongue stadium so they could relocate to the CC and ensure their future. This happened around the same time as the Super League war which led to them being deemed one of the less viable Sydney clubs when teams were being culled. Then in 2008 they had the most complete and sustainable bid to get back into the NRL only to lose out because the CC happens to be geographically located near Sydney, and it's sounding like this will happen again at the next expansion. On the plus side though, you could argue that the Bears have been undefeated in the NRL since 1999 :D Up the Bears!
Will Sinclair
Guest
It's even worse when you remember the Storm were cheating.
Will Sinclair
Guest
By the way - you should try being a Waratahs fan. You get to experience losing in the closing minutes every week. I can confirm that it never gets easier.
Will Sinclair
Guest
"The Tigers were never going to win in 2010 after they lost an uncontested scrum; I mean how on earth do you lose an uncontested scrum? " I STILL don't know how the referees let that go. Honestly... in 80 minutes of every game of the rest of the season it's blown up. But just once, they decide to let it go. I'm still bitter.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
As bad as that loss is, it didnt hurt quite as much as the Anzac day loss, i thought that was our Karma for rnd 1, Not only dont the refs like the roosters, the footy gods dont either.
Andy
Guest
I know what you mean, but it could always be worse. Remember the 97 grandfinal i don't and i was there whenever it gets mentioned or footage comes up I think damn those druggies and Bill Harrigan.